Dog-tober Fest Draws Hundreds To Deicke Park

Hundreds of people and their four-legged best friends came out to on Saturday afternoon for the annual Dog-tober Fest, a fest filled with fun, vendors, and demonstrations.

“I think it brings dog people together,” co-Chairwoman Kim Ashbaugh said. “There is no better bond than talking about your dog. Everyone’s kind of working toward the same mission: responsible ownership, anti-cruelty, and no more homeless pets. That’s what we’re all about.”

Ashbaugh said the event started five or six years ago when her friend Pat Schinka began holding it in the parking lot of Maddy’s Doggy Day Care Center. As Ashbaugh and Schinka’s friendship unfolded, the two decided to expand the fest and hold it in the park. The event originated with 12 vendors at the Doggy Day Care and gradually has grown to 58 vendors from all over McHenry County at the park this year.

“We’ve had great vendors who have had good success both in sales and adoptions year after year, so they’ve come back, as well as they spread the word so we have a lot of new vendors here this year which is amazing,” Ashbaugh said.

Vendors ranged from businesses selling gourmet treats and products for dogs, crafters and artists, pet care hospitals, rescue organizations and shelters, and businesses specialized in dog training and dog-sitting. The fest included demonstrations and an event lawn for dogs to play with their owners. An announcer traveled throughout the park giving each vendor a chance to share with attendees why they were there. Ashbaugh said the fest held a raffle and one randomly chosen rescue or shelter received the money raised.

Greater Chicago Cavalier Rescue event coordinator Marie Brestel said the event helps her organization by allowing people to meet the cavalier breed and think about fostering one.

“We get a lot of exposure for the breed itself, also many of our dogs come from puppy mills and we give a lot of attention to the people coming out information about not buying through puppy mills,” Brestel said. “So all of our dogs go into a foster home, they’re not sheltered and that way they’re evaluated and we’re able to get them into the right home.”

As for Ashbaugh, she said she hopes the fest keeps growing and more people continue to pour in.

“People are out here having fun,” Ashbaugh said. “There aren’t too many events that you can bring your own dog to. It’s just a great get-them-out to meet other people and meet other dogs.”

, , and Fetch! Pet Care sponsored the event.